I-League Update: Aizawl FC part ways with Manuel Retamero, Jahar Das appointed as new head coach

Goal

The former Mohun Bagan gaffer will make a return to the top-tier after almost ten years.

Aizawl FC, the newbies of I-League, who have managed to amass only four points from their opening six encounters, have decided to part ways with Spanish gaffer Manuel Retamero Fraile midway into the season. Jahar Das, a former Mohun Bagan coach, who was heading the youth development programme of the club will now be taking over as the head coach.

"In view of the game plan and strategy vis-a-vis the players, the club has decided to bid a farewell to Manuel Retamero Fraile with high honour and respect and deploy other coaching staff of the club viz Jahar Das, an experienced coach and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) A-license holder, presently working as Head of Youth Development Programme and also K.Malsawmkima, who is current Mizoram Best Coach of the Year awardee. The other coaching staff will remain in the club headed by Hmingthana Zadeng as Team Director," a statement released by the club read.

Das, who was handed the charge at Mohun Bagan after the legendary Amal Dutta filed his resignation in December 2005, was at the helm of the reins only for three months, as a number of poor results in the National Football League (NFL) saw current East Bengal coach Biswajit Bhattacharya being appointed as the new coach. Das has spent a number of years as the head of the Mohun Bagan Academy in Durgapur.

Manuel is the second coach to be sacked in this edition of I-League after Salgaocar chose to part ways with Malky Thomson.

The new coaching staff will have a week's time to inculcate their ideas in the team, with the side slated to play its next match nesxt Saturday against Shillong Lajong.